what time is in chinese

2 min read 27-12-2024

Telling time in Chinese might seem daunting at first, but with a little practice, it becomes surprisingly straightforward. This guide breaks down how to tell the time in Mandarin Chinese, covering everything from basic hours to minutes and even more nuanced expressions. Mastering this skill will significantly enhance your communication in Chinese-speaking environments.

Understanding the Basics: Hours (点 diǎn)

The foundation of telling time in Chinese rests on the word for "point" or "o'clock," which is 点 (diǎn). Numbers 1-12 are used to represent the hours.

一点 (yī diǎn): 1 o'clock
两点 (liǎng diǎn): 2 o'clock
三点 (sān diǎn): 3 o'clock
四点 (sì diǎn): 4 o'clock
五点 (wǔ diǎn): 5 o'clock
六点 (liù diǎn): 6 o'clock
七点 (qī diǎn): 7 o'clock
八点 (bā diǎn): 8 o'clock
九点 (jiǔ diǎn): 9 o'clock
十点 (shí diǎn): 10 o'clock
十一点 (shíyī diǎn): 11 o'clock
十二点 (shí'èr diǎn): 12 o'clock

Adding Minutes: 分 (fēn)

To express minutes, you'll use 分 (fēn), meaning "minute." Minutes are placed after the hour.

一点十五分 (yī diǎn shíwǔ fēn): 1:15
两点三十分 (liǎng diǎn sān shí fēn): 2:30
三点四十五分 (sān diǎn sì shí wǔ fēn): 3:45

Using "Half Past" and "Quarter Past/To": Common Expressions

While you can always use the minute system, some common expressions make telling time more natural.

半 (bàn): Half. Used to say "half past." For example, 两点半 (liǎng diǎn bàn) means 2:30.
一刻 (yīkè): Quarter. 一刻钟 (yīkè zhōng) means a quarter of an hour (15 minutes). You can use this to say "quarter past" or "quarter to."
- 一点一刻 (yī diǎn yīkè): 1:15 (quarter past one)
- 两点一刻 (liǎng diǎn yīkè): 2:15 (quarter past two)
- 三点差一刻 (sān diǎn chā yīkè): 2:45 (quarter to three - literally "three o'clock lacking a quarter")

Telling Time After 12: 上午 (shàngwǔ) and 下午 (xiàwǔ)

To differentiate between AM and PM, use 上午 (shàngwǔ) for AM (morning) and 下午 (xiàwǔ) for PM (afternoon). These terms precede the time.

上午十一点 (shàngwǔ shíyī diǎn): 11 AM
下午两点 (xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn): 2 PM

What Time Is It? Asking the Question

To ask "What time is it?", you can use several phrases:

现在几点? (xiànzài jǐ diǎn?): What time is it now? (most common)
几点了? (jǐ diǎn le?): What time is it? (more casual)

Beyond the Basics: More Advanced Expressions

快…了 (kuài…le): Almost… Example: 快三点了 (kuài sān diǎn le): It's almost 3 o'clock.
过…了 (guò…le): Past… Example: 过五点了 (guò wǔ diǎn le): It's past 5 o'clock.

Practice Makes Perfect

The key to mastering telling time in Chinese is practice. Try writing out different times, saying them aloud, and even finding opportunities to use these phrases in conversation. With consistent effort, you'll be telling time in Mandarin like a pro in no time!